Technological Innovation for Global Health: Vaxess' Long Road to Heat-Stable Vaccines

This case describes the launch of a start-up company, Vaxess, which develops a silk-based technology for the heat-stabilization of vaccines, bypassing the need for refrigeration. Vaxess aims to increase vaccine access for children living in low-income countries, particularly in rural areas. This case examines the complex global system that shapes the process of technological innovation for public health and the barriers that arise with implementation.

As described in the abstract, "Developing a biomedical technology from its early stages into a final product was already a lengthy and risky endeavor; doing so for a product with limited market potential could be more complex still. In principle, creating heat-stable vaccines could offer many benefits from eliminating the need for a cold chain: decreased distribution costs, reduced vaccine spoilage, improved immunization coverage and increased compliance with vaccination schedules. However, what had initially seemed like a straightforward scientific challenge to address a widely-shared goal, quickly revealed itself to be much more complex as Valenti began to navigate the complex global health ecosystem: vaccine industry stakeholders included pharmaceutical companies, charitable foundations, UN agencies, global health initiatives and the governments of LMIC countries."

The case is part of a series produced by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Case Program. It was funded by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Sustainability Science Program. This case is provided for free.